Happy New Year, everyone. May 2015 bring you the blessings of health and happiness.
2015 brings a new era to our house as we become parents of, gulp, 20 year old. Happy birthday to our daughter Shelby Jan. 4.
With all of the fog experienced in December people were certain they knew where the lyrics in the popular Christmas song, 鈥淩udolf, the Red Nosed Reindeer鈥� came from when the line referred to 鈥溾�hen one foggy Christmas Eve 鈥︹�� The hoarfrost made for great winter wonderland photos but not so great driving conditions, as well as dangerous conditions with power lines. The SaskPower boys were kept busy throughout.
2014 was a successful year for Unity. Construction stayed busy meaning new homes were built while others were renovated, including businesses. Construction that seemed to be slow on the new pool took a big leap forward. The concern with businesses closing out or moving from the downtown core now seem unwarranted as businesses moved, opened or expandeded. Most noticeable in 2014 was the move of Cinema Satellite to the former Sheads location while Guys Furniture took over the furniture portion in the former location.聽 There was new signage erected at entrances to town showing either a bright red 鈥淭he opportUNITY in Unity waits for you鈥� or the signs directing visitors to some of the more well-known spots in the community.
2015 appears to be lining up for more of the same progress.
The new swimming pool is set to be open this summer. The hard work put into fundraising and grans seeking as well as the patience process in its construction will see the rewards when users will get a brand new pool to swim in this summer.
The Unity Community Centre hall will have some renovations completed in the first quarter of 2015 that include long overdue kitchen renovations.
Some of the funds raised at the Russia vs Canada World Junior A hockey event are earmarked for a project at the rink, yet to be decided.
The veteran鈥檚 section of the cemetery underwent extensive renovation and is now an impressive tribute to local soldiers who either lost their life in battle or who have passed away since returning home.
Downtown saw a number of changes that will continue in the New Year. Wildeman鈥檚 Sports Excellence, open only one year, is already moving to larger spaces. Owners, Dean and Paula Wildeman, are relocating to the former Ultra Sports building on the corner of Main Street to make more room for inventory, displays, storage of seasonal merchandise as well as giving a little more room to the Sears outlet they also currently operate out of their store.
Crystal Clarity will see some changes in the New Year as a business moves into their location while they relocate.
Trina Klein, who opened Found Treasures, has now expanded to include a flower shop. Former business resident at that location, Special Events Rentals, has moved to the former Friendship Centre.
The New to You clothing store moved upstairs in the Unity Community Resource Centre to a much bigger and brighter spaces as all other services offered on the main floor are now housed in the upper portion of this building, with an elevator soon to be completed.
The CIBC is now home to another ATM machine in Unity offering a third ATM in downtown Unity joining Unity Credit Union and the Bank of Montreal.
Crossfit Lair has moved to the industrial area from their downtown home but hopes are high for that space to soon be filled.
Construction will continue to be busy as new houses are popping up on a regular basis.
'The town is considering sidewalk and paving projects as well as local improvement projects in 2015 but infrastructure projects are still at council table in budgeting phases.
Sports programs continue to flourish attracting participants from other communities whose programs have subsided or folded.
As seen by the recent World Junior A hockey event, Unity is no stranger to hosting big events and in fact, do it regularly and do the job well. Although there is no major event currently lined up for Unity in 2015, something could always sprout up once the New Year has begun.
It appears Unity will once again be 鈥渢he talk of the town鈥� as many changes, progresses and successes will be part of 2015鈥檚 plan.
In a few short days kids will wonder where the time has gone with their Christmas break as they head back to school Jan. 5.
It won鈥檛 be long before the renowned talents of the St. Peter鈥檚 choirs, under the direction of Mrs. Keller, will be practicing for Music Festival 2015.
At Unity Public School, Mrs. Carleton鈥檚 baby arrived in December. So the kids are now anticipating the arrival of Mrs. Pool鈥檚 baby due in February.
At UCHS, basketball will ramp up again as teams will be in the last part of their season preparation for district playdowns.
Unity Miners action will ramp up in the New Year as the team looks to secure a spot in the playoff picture. Check out their Facebook page for game schedules or the town of Unity website. Minor hockey is also a flurry of games both in and out of town.
Team Laycock is coming to the Unity Curling Club. The hottest men鈥檚 Saskatchewan curling team has chosen Unity for their Decisive Farming Curlingville tour. Make sure to register your kids for their clinic coming up on Jan. 14, at no cost. Other interested community members are welcome to come and meet the team following their on-ice sessions with the kids.
January will begin a very busy second half of the season at the curling club as after hosting a Boxing Day Bonspiel, organizers and icemakers will be preparing for the Sifto Senior Cash Spiel to be held Jan. 9 to 11 with a $7,000 payout. Following this will be the senior women鈥檚 qualifier No. 3 and then the bonspiel season begins starting with the JayDee Ag Tech men鈥檚 event Feb. 10-15, followed by the oilman鈥檚 bonspiel, the ladies鈥� bonspiel and the year-end mixed funspiel.
Did you know 20 years ago we did not know of such things as Facebook, smartphones, texting, YouTube, Twitter; reality TV, iPad or a Rider team that consistently made the playoffs. This is how fast the world changes.聽
Coffee row folks are reuniting as some of them went away for the Christmas holidays or were busy hosting houses full of company. They will be reminiscing about 2014 and generating theories on what 2015 will hold. Recounting of the many seasonal activities that took place over Christmas and New Year鈥檚 will be popular conversation topics.
So you see we keep busy in Unity with activities and wisdom from our friends on coffee row. Until next week.
